Coloccini eager to leave Newcastle and go home

Newcastle: Fabricio Coloccini is still keen to leave Newcastle United and return to San Lorenzo in his native Argentina.

Newcastle’s captain attempted to depart Tyneside last January, citing personal problems, but proved unable to force through a move to San Lorenzo and accepted that he must honour his £60,000-a-week (Dh35,7170) contract.

However, with another transfer window approaching, Coloccini has spoken to Ole, the Argentinian publication, reiterating his desire to go back to San Lorenzo. “You never know what can happen in football,” said the 31-year-old centre-half whose personal issues are understood to have not been entirely resolved.

“I have to speak the truth; I would like to return as soon as possible,” he said. “In January we did all we could for a possible return to San Lorenzo but I always made it clear that Newcastle would have the last word. The club have invested a lot in me and I must show respect towards them.

“The truth is I don’t want to get my hopes up. Hopefully it [a departure for Argentina] will be as soon as possible though.”

With San Lorenzo unable to pay Newcastle’s £5m asking price for a defender they had on loan more than a decade ago, the move foundered last January and his relationship with the club appeared repaired, if a little fragile.

The £10m signing from Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna, newly recovered from injury, remains one of manager Alan Pardew’s key players.

— Guardian News and Media 2013